What do you think?
Rate this book
Darako
Brave and funny, set in colonial India, Darako features a paanwallah and his secrets; a spitting competition that grows to be a massive affair attracting talents from everywhere; an Afghan rebel who is a star spitter and a mystic; gunrunning during the freedom struggle; a daylight murder and a tangy romance amidst the utter chaos. In this world, up is down, and down is up.
With laugh-out-loud moments and a clever play on language, song and history, Darako uses satire to comment on religion, identity and freedom.
With laugh-out-loud moments and a clever play on language, song and history, Darako uses satire to comment on religion, identity and freedom.
139 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 24, 2024
2 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 25, 2024
Darako is set during the late colonial period, primarily in the 1930s and 1940s, against a backdrop of conspiracy and intrigue. The story centers around a paanwala named Bhola, who runs a paan shop directly opposite a police station. Bhola's shop is a hub of activity, regularly visited by a diverse group of people from the area. One of the key characters is Peter, a beggar who lingers near the police station and the book is from his point of view, as he silently observes everything that happens around him.
We have Bandu, a government official appointed by a government-run Chewing Gum company. His job is to monitor Bhola’s customers from a spot near the paan shop. Bandu becomes a nuisance to Bhola, constantly asking questions about the paan and scribbling notes in his little red book. The turning point comes when a customer spits paan into a manhole, sparking the bizarre idea of a spitting competition in the area.
Enter Dara Khosh Patan, whose impressive paan-spitting skills leave Bandu in awe. This admiration pushes Bandu to organize an official paan-spitting competition in Dara Khosh’s name, all in the hope that Dara Khosh will return to the paan shop to showcase his talents once more. This peculiar premise leads to humorous interactions between the eccentric characters.
The book also introduces characters like Bulbul, who can’t resist poking her nose into every situation, and the havaldar and postman, each interesting in their own way. These characters add depth to the story, providing comic relief and a sense of community within the town.
A particularly captivating element of the story is the secret code language used by Bhola and Bilal. Their cryptic conversations, such as the repeated use of the phrase “How is Victoria today?”, keeping me hooked and adding a layer of mystery and suspense to the story.
At its heart, Darako revolves around the quirky paan-spitting competition, which eventually leads to the formation of a religious cult dedicated to Dara Khosh. Overall, Darako offers an unusual yet captivating story and the interplay of humor and historical context makes it a unique and engaging read.
We have Bandu, a government official appointed by a government-run Chewing Gum company. His job is to monitor Bhola’s customers from a spot near the paan shop. Bandu becomes a nuisance to Bhola, constantly asking questions about the paan and scribbling notes in his little red book. The turning point comes when a customer spits paan into a manhole, sparking the bizarre idea of a spitting competition in the area.
Enter Dara Khosh Patan, whose impressive paan-spitting skills leave Bandu in awe. This admiration pushes Bandu to organize an official paan-spitting competition in Dara Khosh’s name, all in the hope that Dara Khosh will return to the paan shop to showcase his talents once more. This peculiar premise leads to humorous interactions between the eccentric characters.
The book also introduces characters like Bulbul, who can’t resist poking her nose into every situation, and the havaldar and postman, each interesting in their own way. These characters add depth to the story, providing comic relief and a sense of community within the town.
A particularly captivating element of the story is the secret code language used by Bhola and Bilal. Their cryptic conversations, such as the repeated use of the phrase “How is Victoria today?”, keeping me hooked and adding a layer of mystery and suspense to the story.
At its heart, Darako revolves around the quirky paan-spitting competition, which eventually leads to the formation of a religious cult dedicated to Dara Khosh. Overall, Darako offers an unusual yet captivating story and the interplay of humor and historical context makes it a unique and engaging read.
June 6, 2025
I stumbled upon Darako while browsing at a bookstore, curious to try something new from an author I hadn't read before. The book, set in colonial India, offers a blend of humor and absurdity, creating a reading experience that is anything but typical.
It is a satirical exploration of a world where a seemingly trivial event, a spitting competition, becomes the center of a story filled with eccentric characters and unexpected twists. The humor is sharp, and the situations are often absurd, but beneath the surface, there’s a deeper commentary on religion, identity, and the complexities of life under colonial rule.
However, I found that the book’s non-linear storyline could be a bit challenging to follow at times. The narrative jumps between different perspectives and timelines, which might not appeal to readers who prefer a straightforward plot. That said, the book’s unpredictability is also part of its charm, making it a unique read. Basically, it’s a great book for a one-sitting read over the weekend.
It is a satirical exploration of a world where a seemingly trivial event, a spitting competition, becomes the center of a story filled with eccentric characters and unexpected twists. The humor is sharp, and the situations are often absurd, but beneath the surface, there’s a deeper commentary on religion, identity, and the complexities of life under colonial rule.
However, I found that the book’s non-linear storyline could be a bit challenging to follow at times. The narrative jumps between different perspectives and timelines, which might not appeal to readers who prefer a straightforward plot. That said, the book’s unpredictability is also part of its charm, making it a unique read. Basically, it’s a great book for a one-sitting read over the weekend.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews